Multi-Agency Public Protection Arrangements (MAPPA) Guidance For Staff Who Are Caring For Patients and Visitors Who Are Deemed to be Dangerous or Possible Dangerous Offenders SOP/Protocol Detail

• Aims
• Sharing of relevant information
• Background and indications for standard operating procedure/protocol
• Procedure method (step by step)
• Information Sharing Pathway
• Important telephone numbers

Aims

• This guideline is designed to help staff to safeguard children while they are on trust premises and will be part of a wider strategy to safeguard the public.

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Sharing of relevant information.

• Exchange of information is essential for effective public protection. The MAPPA guidance clarifies how MAPPA agencies may exchange information among themselves and with other people or organisations outside the MAPPA. Multi-Agency Public Protection Panels (MAPP) can recommend that agencies disclose information about offenders to a number of organisations including hospitals, school and voluntary groups.
• Information shared should only be provided to those who require the information in order to safeguard and is deemed essential to effective public protection. Health is recognised within the MAPPA framework as an agency where information can be shared to ensure safe management of patients and visitors who have been recognised through MAPPA and who have a plan in place to manage the offenders risk to the public.
• This guidance will govern any client admitted to hospital or any visitor who has a MAPPA plan.
• This guidance is designed to ensure that information shared between LTHT and the
• Public Protection Unit Leeds complies with the law.
• This is aimed at promoting trust between the two agencies which is sustained and underpinned by professional integrity.
• This guidance will ensure a safe and secure process of information sharing

Information sharing principles must:

• Have lawful authority
• Be necessary

Be proportionate and done in ways which:

• Ensure the safety and security of information shared and be accountable

Source; Multi-Agency Public Protection Arrangements Guidance (Ministry of Justice MAPPA Guidance 2017, Chapter 9-see mappa.justic.gov.uk website)

• Each agency sharing information should have either a prima facie statutory or common law power to do so. Section 325(4) of the Criminal Justice Act 2003 expressly permits the sharing of information between MAPPA agencies. Health has a statutory "Duty to Cooperate in this respect. Section 115 of the Crime and Disorder Act 1998 confers on any person a power to pass information to a power to pass information to certain relevant authorities including health. Therefore due to MAPPA guidance, health will have the certain relevant authorities including health. Therefore due to MAPPA guidance, health will have the prima facie legal power to share information with the Public Protection Unit Leeds.

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Background and indications for standard operating procedure/protocol

Multi-Agency Public Protection Arrangements provide a national framework in England and Wales for the assessment and management of risk which may be posed by serious violent and sexual offenders to the public. All MAPPA offenders are assessed to establish the level of harm they pose to the public. Risk management plans are then worked out for each offender to manage those risks.

Risk management plans are put in place to aid the monitoring of convicted sexual and violent offenders who are returning to the community.

In Leeds the Public Protection Unit at Elland Road Police Station (0113 2413335) has a MAPPA Liaison Officer who is tasked with communicating with partner agencies about sex/dangerous offenders who maybe for example, accessing care from a hospital trust.

Information will be shared with the hospital trust in order to enable us to put into place safe care plans for sex/dangerous offenders while they are in our care.

Her Majesty's Prison and Probation Services (HMPPS) assess risk of harm by using the Offender Assessment System (OASys). The Youth Justice Board uses ASSEST for under 18 year olds. Levels of risk are in four categories low, medium, high or very high. Risk is categorised by reference to who may be subject to harm which includes children.

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Procedure method (step by step)

Instructions for staff caring for a known offender with MAPPA management plans.

On receiving information* from the Public Protection Unit (PPU) the safeguarding team will inform the manager of the unit/ward and Clinical Site Manager that the patient/visitor will be attending that the patient/visitor is known to be under a MAPPA management.

*This information will be sent to the LTHT safeguarding adult drop box. The form (PPU communication form 2021) is for use across the Health economy. The form will include level of risk and nature of offence.

The PPU communication form will be stored on the Safeguarding G drive for reference and information contained on the form with the clinical area on a need to know basis. This information will be stored for the period of the sexual offences licence.

In the event that the PPU share information that suggests imminent or specific risk to staff or the public, the safeguarding team will liaise with LTHT security team to advise the need for security presence whilst the patient is visiting the LTHT sites.

A member of the safeguarding team will contact the unit/ward and brief staff regarding any safety measures that may be required after consultation with the relevant PPU officer and with reference to the PPU communicates form.

Any plans required to be shared by the whole ward/area will be documented on PPM by the safeguarding team via the Safeguarding control note.

Any PAS/PPM alert will be considered on a case by case basis in relation to future risk and levels of risk as identified by MAPPA (levels) and PPU (high or very high risk).

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Information Sharing Pathway

The safeguarding team will receive information from the Public Protection Unit regarding a patient/visitor who is under MAPPA and who will be attending hospital.

The safeguarding team will locate which area the patient/visitor will be within the hospital and advise the Public Protection Unit.

The safeguarding team will identify key staff such as Matron/Consultant (Outpatients) with which to share the information and agree a safety plan.

A member of the safeguarding team will contact the ward/unit where the patient/visitor will be attending and advise staff regarding any safety measures that may be required regarding their management while the patient/visitor is on that unit.

Ward/unit staff will liaise with the safeguarding team on 23937/25894 of any issues regarding the patient/visitor up to the time of discharge from hospital and will be given advice and support regarding the management of the individual on their unit.

All highly sensitive information related to sexual offences shared on Trust clinical systems are required to be respectful and shared on a need to know basis following risk assessment.

High levels of risk can be ‘flagged’ on clinical systems on a case by case basis and in relation to MAPPA/PPU levels of (high/very high) risk, this should only be done following consultation with the safeguarding team.

Evidence Base: References

The principles contained within this guidance on information sharing and disclosure take into account the Common Law Duty of Confidence, the Data Protection Act 1998 and European Convention on Human Rights as, incorporated into domestic law by the Human Rights Act 1998. Working Together to Safeguard Children, Every Child Matters Agenda for Children 2006.

More information about MAPPA can be obtained from the Home Office website.

Links to National Recommendations

Criminal Justice Act (2003) The Home Office Crime and Disorder Act (1998) The Home Office

Secretary of State for Justice MAPPA Guidance (2001-mappa.justice.gov.uk)

MAPPA Basic Awareness eLearning - http://mappa-elearning.co.uk/sign-in.php

Working Together to Safeguard Children HM Government.

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Important telephone numbers

Trust Safeguarding Team:
Children: 23937
Adults: 66964
Public Protection Unit: 0113 2413335